When invited for dinner by family or friends, the accepted norm is to bring wine, chocolates or flowers for the hosts.
Now as an alternative to “gifts no one really needs”, a Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue member has set up a website enabling hosts to ask their guests to make a charitable donation instead. And Jewish Care, Norwood, Chai Cancer Care and One Family are already on board.
Mandy Abkin, 51, said the motivation behind the
GiveitAPP — launched in time for the High Holy-Days — was her frustration at buying and receiving presents that were nice but unnecessary.
“I thought that instead of people spending all this money on gifts for Rosh Hashanah or Succot, wouldn’t it be great if they could donate to a Jewish charity instead?”
